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New 12vlt Battery and Display is now dead

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by r3meyer, Oct 8, 2012.

  1. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    If OP has yet to exhaust all the different ways to get the error codes, that's definitely the smartest place to start....

    In the meantime, it makes sense that the new battery's slightly higher voltage level was enough to fry an ailing circuit or HV battery/battery ecu... As said before, startup sequence knowledge and known problems with weak circuits specific to these symptoms is likely where the answer is...
     
  2. r3meyer

    r3meyer New Member

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    Can anyone give me the walk through of where these 2 are located exactly? I found in the manual the Ohm resistance for each to check, but not sure of location.

    Manual is only 4000+ pages, so I will find it eventually but this will speed things along.
     
  3. nh7o

    nh7o Off grid since 1980

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    They are in the fuse/relay block on the right side of the engine compartment. In the manual, it's Unit B of the Engine Room R/B and Engine Room J/B Inner Circuit. I haven't been inside of that, but it may be a bit of a pain to get into.

    Question: What happens to the blinking little car symbol (the security light on the dash) when you try to start?
     
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  4. r3meyer

    r3meyer New Member

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    Pulled every relay under the hood, and checked for operation. All open and close and have correct resistance.

    Whats next?
     
  5. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Get the error codes somehow... probably via Tech Stream software...
     
  6. r3meyer

    r3meyer New Member

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    As soon as I put the key fob into the ignition, the car symbol (Security light) goes away.
    If I press the POWER button its light turns green.
    If I press the BRAKE pedel you can hear the brake pump do its thing.
    If you press the POWER button again, the PARKING button lights up for a quick second, the CEL for a quick second, and the car sounds like its going to fire up systems but then thats it. Its does this every time you push the POWER button.
    The POWER light then just flashes amber and will no longer turn green until you remove power from the battery.

    Horns, Lights flashers, etc work.

    I realize the easy thing here is to say "Go to the Dealer" I dont want to go to the dealer. I can buy 2-3 ECU's for the cost of a trip to the dealer.

    Thoughts?
     
  7. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Since you don't want to take the easy approach, then you will need to invest four-digits in Techstream Lite so that you can obtain the DTC.

    Also, since you know that the car was in an accident severe enough to make it a salvage write-off, look carefully at the wiring harnesses in the accident area and if you see any questionable issues, repair the wiring and connectors now.
     
  8. jadziasman

    jadziasman Prius owner emeritus

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    The owners manual states that a POWER button with a flashing amber light indicates there is a hybrid system malfunction of some sort.

    Since you were able to drive it back from where you bought it and then experienced the problem, I agree with Patrick, it seems there might be a wire on which the insulation has rubbed off to expose bare metal and this wire (wires) is touching body ground, preventing you from starting the hybrid system.

    How could this have happened? Well, the mechanic who restored the car with new body panels and whatever else it needed before it was functional again might not (or could not) have re-routed all the wiring to the original locations. All it would take is for one critical wire to be out of place. Your trip back might have been enough to rub the insulation off of a wire.

    Chances are you'll have to wave the white flag and pay Toyota service to find the root cause of the malfunction. Otherwise it might take you months to find what's wrong, if you ever do.
     
  9. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Understand reluctance to go to dealer. If me I would spend $150 and buy a used Inverter. That's about 50% of the Hybrid system. I suspect your Inverter is blown.
    I checked on eBay and first one that comes up is known good for $150 delivered. If that doesn't fix it you can put it back on eBay.
     
  10. r3meyer

    r3meyer New Member

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    I sent it over on a flat bed to a local buddies shop who is positive he can figure it out. If not I am just going to start ordering parts and swapping them out until it comes back to life. Snagged a heat storage tank for $300.

    This is more of a project then anything else and a learning experience at the same time. I will keep you guys posted on what we figure out.

    On a side note, I was in a prius Taxi yesterday that turned from 399,999 miles to 400,000 right after we got in! Pretty cool. He also told me that all they do is buy salvage and auction cars. Longest span of time without a wreck for the taxi company was 3 days!
     
  11. r3meyer

    r3meyer New Member

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    Well buddy could not get Techstream to talk to the computer either. A quick call to a toyota hotline they use and it turned out that when I was checking fuses under the dash I moved a very important 7.5amp fuse one slot over... Car is up and running. We also confirmed that the Hybrid system and batteries are in great shape and functioning as they should. Have some minor stuff to fix but that is a big relief.

    Cost of repair:
    1 - Six pack of beer and the butt of jokes that I am sure to not ever hear the end of. :whistle:
     
  12. asa2000

    asa2000 Junior Member

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    Hi r3meyer,
    I own a 2005 Toyota Prius, just had the same problem yesterday you experienced as stated in the treads above, would like to know if you have resolved the problem and what was the issue and how it was resolved.Just to add that you mentioned a 7.5amps fuse,can you guide me to the location of this item(7.5amps fuse) on the prius,i would like to check if that is also the problem with my prius,snapshots will be of grate help.